The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-08
A MYSTERIOUS PITCHER
Which Has Interested the Curious for
Twenty Years.

CHARLESTON, S. G., Oct. 6.--Having
some business with Mr.. j. Hamilton Wilson,
the efficient paymaster of the South Caro-
lima railroad, called upon him some time
ago and CHANGED to mention the fact that |
intended to make trip over the line in a
few days, whereupon, in the kindness of his
heart, he invited me to accompany him on
round trip on the pay train. thankfully
accepted the invitation, and lately we
started out under the conductorship of
Capt. William H. Carsten, whole-souled
gentleman and veteran conductor The
train was pulled by engine No "a, with Mr..
Henry Brickman, an experienced and re-
liable engineer on the foot board.
The trip to Augusta, Columbia, Camden,
and back to this city was made in three
days, and it was indeed a pleasant one.
Mr.. Wilson is a most affable and enter
tanning gentleman. Capt. Carsten has been
with the company from bovhood and when
ever there is some very important, or diff
cult train to RIM, Capt. Carsten is called
upon to handle the bell line. During the
trip my attention was called to what is
known as
THAT MYSTERIOUS PITCHER
At point about | IA miles from this city,
in Aiken county, on the Augusta division,
and near to Montmorenci station, on the
right hand side of the line going westward,
stands an unpretentious old-fashioned log
house, which some twenty-five years ago
was occupied by a family by the the name
of C, who had but recently started
out to fight the battle of life. Almost di-
rectly in front of the house, about thirty
feet therefrom, and between it and the rail
road track, is a well. Near the well is an
ordinary cypress post about five feet high,
and on the top of that post stands a common
white pitcher One of my in.ormantS has
been travelling up and down the road for
the past tweuty-0ne years, has passed there
at all times of the day aud night. has looked
for that pitcher a thousand times and has
always seen it there just the same, through
that long series of years. Neither storms,
earthquakes nor the hand of man has ever
disturbed it.
Tradition says that nearly quarter of a
century ago. soon after the family above re-
ferred to had settled there, the wife, young
and beautiful woman went to the well for
water. just as she had placed the pitcher
on the post she was struck by lightning and
instantly killed. No one ever attempted to,
or even thought of, removing the pitcher
from the spot in which it had been placed by
its fair owner. In course of time kind of
superstitious dread, with respect to the
pitcher, seemed to take possession of the
remaining inmates of the house and those
VINO IfequehCed Tie place. Inc plGcner,
therefore, was permitted to remain. Many
years ago the family moved away, leaving
the pitcher where the hand of the once
happy mistress of the house had placed it,
ard there it is still. The home IS
now occupied by negroes. None dare,
touch the pitcher, however 1t stands to-
day as it did twenty years ago. The train,
men of the road look for it regularly as
they go and come. 1t is always there as if
it were nailed to the spot, and there it will
probably remain until broken by accident,
or the post which supports it rOts and per-
mits it to fall to the ground